Electric storage battery



Dec. 27, 1938. r A; SETZER 2,141,621

ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERY 2 Sheetfs-Sheet 2 Dec. 27, 1938.

A..sETzER' AELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERY Filed Dec. l5, l934- Patented Dec. 27, i938 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE Albert Setzer, North Scituate, R. I. Applicationpecember 15, 19s4, ser1a1 No. 751,668

1 Claim.

'I'his invention relates to electric storage batteries and more particularly to an improved battery for airplanes, portable lanterns and other like uses wherein it is subjected to rocking, tilt- 5 ing or 'upturning One object of the invention is to provide a battery unit or cell having means to' vent the gases generated during operation while' preventing the escape of the liquid electrolyte therefrom when the battery is tipped or tilted from its normal upright position.

Another object 'of the invention is to provide a battery cell having a compartment located above the plates into which the liquid may ilow when the battery is tilted and so constructed as to prevent its escape therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for preventing the introduction of an excessive amount of liquid into the cell during replenishment of the electrolyte.

3 tecting the vent opening to prevent escape or leakage of the liquid from the cell when the batforth in the following specification which de` scribes two preferred embodiments of the in- 40 vention, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional vie'w through a single cell electric storage battery constructed in accordance with the present invention;

'45 Fig. 2 is a plan view of the single cell battery with part` of its cover shown as broken away to disclose the enclosed plates or electrodes;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cell cover showing one form of automatic means for closing or seal- .50 ing the'ivent opening;

(Cl. 13G-177) the position of the liquid when the battery is tilted ninety degrees from its upright position;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the f lposition assumed by the liquid when the battery is inverted from normal position; and -5 .l

' through the vent opening usually provided therein. 'Ihis is especially true with batteries used in airplanes which are subject to extreme angular movements and are sometimes flown upside down. When the liquid is permitted to escape from the 20 cell over a period of time the supply immersing the plates or electrodes is substantially reduced,

thereby resulting in buckling or other damage to the plates and a corresponding impairment in emciency. y

It is an aim of the present invention to .eliminate this faulty condition by providing means to prevent leakage or escape of the liquid from the battery, whereby to guard against damage to the Iplates, insure greater electrical eiiciency an .30

prolong the life of thefbattery.

In general, the present improved battery comprises a casing or cell having an air space or compartment arranged above the Yplates or elec--y trodes into which the liquid may ow when the battery is tilted from its normally vertical or upright position. The present invention also provides means for continuously venting the compartment to permit the escape of gases generated in the cell and means for shielding the vent opening to prevent leakage of the liquid therethrough when the battery is tilted. Ihe invention also provides means for preventing the' introduction of liquid into the cell above a normal level, this means operating to shut 01T the 45 escape of air from the cell when the'proper level has been reached.

Referring to the present drawings', the battery is herein illustrated as lcomprising a single cell but it is to be understood that it maybe con-A structed with any number of cells or units to produce the required voltage. The battery cell preferablycomprises a hard rubber case or jar 2 and the usual electrodes in the form of plates or grids 3 and 4 which rest upon laterally extending ribs 55.

5 rising from the bottom of. the jar. The upper ends of the plates 3 and 4 are united tothe usual pillar-straps ii and 1 in anysuitableV manner. Projecting upwardly from the straps .6 and 1 above the top of the case 2 are cylindrical bind- 60 ing-posts 8 and 9 for connection with the cables of the circuit in which the battery is to be used. The posts 8 and 9 are provided with flanges I2 arranged slightly below the top of the case 2 which serve as rests or supports for a hard rubber cover I5 tted within the upper rim of the CaSe.

A hard rubber baille plate I3 extends across the interior of the case 2 resting upon the pillarstraps 6 and I with its edges fitted snugly against the walls of the case. The baiiie plate I3 is provided with suitable holes I4 to adapt it to be passed over the flanges I2 on the posts 8 and 9 in assembling it with the case 2. It will be observed by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings that a relatively large space or compartment I is provided between the top of'the baille plate I3 and the under side of the cover I5 for a purpose to be later explained.

The cover I5 is preferably constructed of. molded rubber with -relatively thin walls reinforced with vertical ribs to provide the required strength and stiffness. As herein illustrated the upper part of the cover I5 is recessed at I6 along its sides, thus forming a marginal flange I I which abuts the interior walls of thecase 2. In applying the cover I5 tothe case 2 a melted cement or sealing compound is poured into the recess I6 and allowed to harden to seal the joint between the cover and the walls of the case. Before sealing, the cover is bound snugly against the flanges I2 on the posts 8and 9 by means to be next described.

The means for binding the cover I5 against the anges I2 is shown and described in my prior United States Letters Patent No. 1,505,219, dated August 19, 1924, and is therefore not 4herein described in detail. Suffice it to state that tapered nuts I9 are screwed onto the threaded upper portions 20 of the posts 8 and 9 to closely fit the sides of similarly-tapered circular recesses 2l formed in the top of the cover and extending coaxially .with the posts 8 and 9. The nuts I9 engage and compress soft rubber gaskets 22 against inwardly directed flanges 23 at the bottom of the recesses 2l to provide a liquid-tight seal at these points and prevent leakage around the posts 8 and 9. Keys 24 driven into alined keyways in the threaded portions 20 of the posts 8 and 9 and the nuts I9 securely lock the nuts I9 in place to prevent loosening of the parts.

The cover I5 is provided with a threaded filling orifice 29 extending vertically therethrough and screwed into the lower end of. the orice is a ller-tube 3D which reaches downwardly with its lower end inserted through a hole 3| in the baffle plate I3. Screwed into the upper end of the threaded orifice 29 is a filler-plug 33 for closing' the opening. It will be noted by reference to Fig` 1 that the filler-plug 33 is of the type generally employed in batteries except that it is imperforate or without the usual vent opening in its top. Disposed between the head of the fillerplug 33 and the top of the cover I5 is a soft rubber gasket 34 for preventing leakage-of the liquid at this point.

In place of the'usual vent hole formed in the finer plug, a small vent 36 is provided in the cover I5 of the cell in the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Fig. 1.. The vent hole 36 extends vertically through a raised boss 35 and on the under side of the boss are threaded counterbores 31 and 38 of different diameters.

is a tube 39 having an axial bore in register with 'the shield 40 is of'. horn shape having an oset portion 4I inclined to one side and tapered toward its lower end which is closed except for a restricted opening 45. The purpose in oisetting the portion 4I of the shield 40 is to position its end with the opening 45 at a point midway between the sides and ends of the case 2 slightly above the bale plate I3.

The method of operation of the battery in the embodiment of the invention as above described is as follows:

With the parts assembled in the manner as above explained and illustrated in Fig. 1, the ller-plug 33 is removed from the opening 29 and the liquid electrolyte introduced into the cell through the filler-tube 30. Distilled water may be added'to the electrolyte in the battery by pouring it through the tube 30 until the plates or grids 3 and 4 are entirely covered. During the filling operation the operators finger is placed tightly over the vent-opening 36 in the cover I5 and as the liquid is poured into the cell an equal volume of air is exhausted therefrom through the tube 30 until the level of the liquid rises to cover the lower end of the tube. When displacement of the air through the tube 3U is arrested by the liquid surrounding the lower end of the tube, further introduction of water into the cell is prevented, it being the usual practice to continue pouring until it is observed that the liquid is rising in the tube 30. Through this method of supplying water to the battery-plates the compartment I0 remains empty with the liquid level below the vent opening 45 in the the lowerrend of the filler-tube 30 is positioned a slight distance above the top of the plates or grids 3 and 4, thus insuring that suilicient liquid will have been introduced into the battery cell to entirely cover the plates before the escape of air through the tube is nally checked. When the battery has been supplied with the correct amount of liquid the vent opening 36 is uncovered and the small quantity of water in the tube 30 will descend into the cell, expelling an equal volume of air through the opening 36 by way of the shield 49 and vent-tube 39. The illler-plug 33 is then replaced and an electrical charge introduced into the battery to prepare it for service. 'Ihe battery may thereafter be connected incircuit by attaching the terminal cables to the posts 8 and 9 in the usual manner.

It has been stated that batteries employed as equipment for vehicles,' airplanes, portable lanterns and the like are subjected to tilting and rotative movement which causes the liquid to escapethrough the unprotected vent openings in the top of the battery cells. Should the liquid escape for any length of time the supply, in the battery will be diminished to such an extent that the plates willlbe uncovered to cause subsequent warping or buckling thereof so as to impair the eiciency of the battery. Such leakage is also liable to cause damage to adjacent objects by the aci-d electrolyte. f

To overcome this condition the present invention makes use of the compartment I0, into which the liquid may flow when the battery is tilted in shown in Fig. 5 and the water poured into the cell in the manner before explained. As thel any direction, and the shield 40 for 'protecting Athe vent-tube 39 tov prevent escape or leakage of the fluid therethrough. Referringnow to Figs.

6, 7 and 8, the lbattery is shown therein in several positions to 'which it may be tilted when used, for example, in an airplane. It will be observed that, regardless of the position assumed by the battery, the length o`f the shield 40 andthe rela- Ill through the holes or apertures I4 and 3| in the baille plate I3 but its ,escape therefrom is prevented because of the location of the aper ture 45 in the protecting shield 40 regardless of the angular position of the cell. If through splashing or otherwise, as when the cell is tilted` to one of the positions shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, any of the liquid passes through the opening 45 it will drain down the inner sides of the shield 40 and into the well 42 formed between the venttube 39 and the enclosing Wall of the shield without opportunity to escape through the tube. In this manner the liquid is prevented from escaping from the cell and as the battery is swung back to its normal position, as indicated in Fig. 1, the fluid will drain back into the cell through the opening 4,5. It will also be observed by reference toFigs. 6, 7 and 8 that at all times the interior of the cell -will be vented to the atmosphere because of the position of the vent -hole 45 with respect to the liquid level in the compartment l0.

Duringthe use of the battery the electrolyte is reduced in volume due to evaporation and electrolysis and fresh water must be added to insure high efficiency. This may be easily accomplished in the manner before explained. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate a modied form of construction embodying means for automatically sealing the vent opening 36 during the filling operation. The automatic vent-sealing means may comprise a lever 5l)y pivoted on a pin 5l held ,in a' pair of bosses 52 formed integral withgand.

projecting above the top of the cover l5. lOne arm 53 of the lever 50 extends horizontally above.

the cover l5 with its end provided with a soft rubber insert or plug 55 adapted to bear against l' the boss 35 on the top'of the cover to close the vent-opening 36. -The opposite arm 58 of the lever 50 overlies" the filling hole 29 in the cover lI5 into which the filler-plug 33 is screwed. This end of the arm 58 is apertured as at,59 to allow the threaded portion of the filler-plug 33 to pass therethrough when the plugis screwed into the filling hole 29. Thev cover I5 has a recess 6l surrounding the hole 29" to receive a, soft rubber washer 62, the top of which projects above the top of the cover l5 to engage with the under side lof the arm 5,8 ofthe lever 50. Held on the threaded portion of the ller-plug 33abutting its head portion is a soft rubber washer which cooperates with the washer 62,- above described, to prevent leakage of the liquidaround the plug.

g In normal operation of the batterytheV llerplug 33 is screwed down into place in the threaded filling hole 29 in the manner illustrated in Fig.

` 4,' thereby forcing the arm 58 of the lever' 50 downwardly to simultaneously raise the arm 53 to uncover the vent-opening 36 to permit escape of gas from the battery cell. When it becomes' necessary to add water to the cell the ller-plug 33 is removed from the threaded opening 29 as ller-plug 33 is withdrawn the resilient washer 62 acts to raise the arm 58 of the lever 50 and force the opposite arm 53 downwardly as shown in Fig. 5. The rubber plug 55 carried by the arm Y 52 is thereby pressed against the boss 35 to effectively and automatically close the vent-opening 36 to prevent escape of the air from the battery cell during the lling thereof for the purpose before explained.

It will be observed from the foregoing descrip- .tion and illustration that the present invention provides a battery that prevents leakage or spill'- ing ofthe electrolyte, that prevents the introduction of -an excessive amount of liquid into the cell, and of a simple construction that may be economically manufactured and easily assembled.

It will also be observed that the novel features of construction particularly adapt the battery for openings which would not only damage the materials adjacent the battery, but might be 4carried by the air stream of the propeller into engage. ment with the supporting members of the altr plane structure such as struts, guy wires or the like and cause an active corrosion. In such event corrosive effectA might not be noticed until after the member is so weakened as to cause a failure that may resultin a serious accident. To this end the battery of the present invention provides an additional safety feature in an airplane because of its novel structure which insures free venting of the battery in all positions while preventing escape of th'eelectrolyte.

It will also be apparent to one skilled in the art lthat the novel features illustrated and described may have a variety of mechanical expressions other than those shown and described in the two preferred embodiments and still be within the scope of the present invention. For instance, the-parts may be of different sizes and shapes, the automatic sealing element may take a different form from the lever shown or the lever may be differently arranged and actuated by any resilient means such as a spring instead of the soft rubber washer shown. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim: l

In an electric storage battery cell, an enclosing casing, electrodes in the casing, an electrolyte immersing the electrodes, a vent opening in the top of the casing, a shield surrounding the vent opening to prevent the escape of electrolyte in any angular position of the casing, a filler opening in the top of the casing, a tube 'within the filler opening extending downwardly therefrom with its end positioned below the end of the shield, a lever pivotally mounted on the top of the casing with one arm overlying the vent opening to seal the latter and its opposite arm apertured to surfv round the filler opening, means normally urging the sealing arm into engagement with the vent opening whileliquid is supplied to the cell, and a plug for the filler opening extending through the aperture in the arm of the lever and having a flange engaging the lever at the sides of the aperture to remove the sealing arm of the lever from 

